Sectional block clay tile



Feb. 2l, 1933. F. H. MEIER SEGTIONAL BLOCK CLAY TILE Filed May 28, 1930 Patentedy F eb. 21, 1933 PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK H. MEIER, OF SHEFFIELD, ILLINOIS SECTIONAL BLOCK CLAY TILE Animation med May 28, 1930. serial No. 456,553.

The object of my invention is to provide a sectional block clay tile of comparatively simple construction.

More particularly it is my object to provide a form of clay block section which can Still another object is to provide suchblocks with side edges so arranged and so shaped that the blocks may be arranged in circumferential rows and easily and rigidly locked together.

Another purpose is to provide such blocks having their ends tongued and grooved for conveniently connecting the successive rows of blocks.

Generally it is my purpose to provide a tile made of such blocks which can be of such shape that a single standard unit may be used in making up the tile, in such manner that the blocks in the rows may be quickly and permanently assembled, and the different rows may be sealed together by a suitable tight joint. j

With these and other objects in vi-ew my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sectional block clay tile embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the blocks.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the blocks taken from another direction.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

In building sewers and water aqueductsV and the like, it has been found that for many soil conditions vitriiied clay is the best material for the tile. Many difliculties have been experienced in making and handling clay tile of large size. The problem of transportation and handling the tile involves many difficulties. It is also hard to make the tile of sufficient strength without making it too heavy. It has been found that there are many advantages in .making the tile of sectional blocks. As an illustration, I refer to my own Patent No. 1,7 01,817, issued February 12, 1929. To secure proper strength and lightness I have found that it is desirable to make the blocks with inner and outer Walls connected by suitable partitions or ribs. In such a construction it has heretofore been very diiiicult to use ordinary clay tile dies. Hence in the construction shown in my previous patent it was necessary to use inner and outer blocks, differing in construction somewhat; Consequently, in assembling the blocks the expense of labor and mortar was substantial. In all clay tile of'this type using sectional blocks it is hard to get a Water tight joint. Many of the difficulties mentioned are largely eliminated by my present construction.

A sectional block indicated by the reference numeral 10 is shown in the drawing. These blocks have outer Walls 12 and inner walls 11.'r These wa-lls 11 and 12 are connected by ribs 13 and 14 which are arranged circumferentially. The blocks may be made with an intermediate circumferential wall 15.

By using the walls and ribs in the manner just described, the blocks can be pressed out using standard machineryand dies of ordinary known construction. It will, of course, be understood that the blocks are pressed out and curved while leaving the dies, on lines determined by the size of the completed tile, in which they are to be assembled. The blocks are assembled in circumferential rows.

I will now describe what I will call the construction for the side joints of the blocks. Where the intermediate wall 15 is used, it is cut off at one side edge of the block short of the extreme edge thereof as indicated, for

example, at 16 in Figure 2, and is arranged to project flush with the extreme side edge of the block, or beyond the extreme side edge at the other side edge as indicated at 17 in Figure 2. The walls 11 and 12 are beveled at the side edges of the block as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Thus at one end of the wall 11 the bevel, as indicated at 18, is inclined from the face of the bloc-k at one end thereof at the extreme side edge inwardly to the other face. Vhile at the other side end of the block, as indicated at 19 of Figure 2 the bevel is inclined from the inner edge of the block from the extreme side edge thereof to the outer edge of the block. The bevel of the Wall 12 at the side edge of the block which has the bevel 18 is inclined from the extreme side edge of the inner face of the wall 12 to the outer face as indicated at 20. Vhile the bevel of the wall 2O at the end of the block having the bevel 19 is inclined from the outer face of the wall 12 at the extreme side edge thereof inwardly to the inner face of the wall 12 as indicated at 21. In other words, at one side of the block the outer corners of the blocks 11 and 12 are beveled as at 18, 20 and at the other side the inner corners are beveled as at 19, 21. Thus when the two blocks are placed together the side edges thereof may be slipped together so that the walls of one block overlap the walls of the adjacent block as illustrated in Figure 5.

In assembling, a tile block may be placed in vertical position, on end, and the bevels 19 and 21, for instance, may be plastered with a thin layer of mortar, then the next lock is placed in vertical position with the bevels 18 and 20 projecting into the first block adjacent the bevels 19 and 21 as shown in Figure 5.

I will now describe the end oint structure. The ribs 13 and 14 are located inwardly from the ends of each block 10. There are thus provided grooves at the ends of the block of different depths. I have shown the deeper groove at the end of the block having the rib 18. The opposite groove is provided with a projecting tongue 22. When the intermediate wall 15 is employed the tongue 22 forms an extension thereof, but is preferably somewhat thicker than the wall 17 in order to give adequate strength. The tongue 22, however, is narrower than the groove in which it is located and thus really forms two relatively shallow grooves on the opposite sides. These grooves may be used to receive mortar or to receive reinforcing bands 24.

In assembling one circumferential row of blocks with another, mortar is placed in the groove formed adjacent to the rib 13 and the tongue 22 is slipped into that groove as shown, for instance, in Figure 4. The ends of each block 10 may be plastered with mortar if desired.

It will thus be seen that at the sides and ends of the blocks are formed joints with overlapping portions so that there are n0 stra-ight or butt joints through which moisture may travel.

I find that a structure of the kind herein explained affords great strength and also makes it possible to build up a tile out of uniform units. A minimum amount of mortar and labor is required, and when the joints are all overlapped they are of ample strength. By using the tongue and grooved joints at the ends of the rows and at the ends of the tile, any danger of breaking joints due to sagging of one tile with relation to another' is eliminated. It will, of course, be understood that a structure of this kind could be made with side joints of the butt end type, but I prefer a joint of the kind shown here.

Some changes may be made in the details of the structure of my sectional block clay tile without departing from the rea-l spirit of my invention and it is my purpose to cover by my claims any such modifications of structure as are included within their scope.

I claim z* 1. A clay tile comprising circumferential rows of curved, hollow blocks each having inner and outer walls and circumferentially arranged, connecting ribs, the side edges of the walls of each of the blocks of each row being beveled, the edges of the walls at one side of the block being beveled from the extreme portions of their faces and at the other side from the extreme edges of their farthest spaced faces to their adjacent faces.

2. A clay tile comprising circumferential rows of curved blocks, each having a plurality of spaced walls and circumferential ribs between the walls, each block having a groove at one end and a tongue formed upon and projecting from one of said ribs at its other end and having its walls beveled at its side edges to permit the side edge of one block to receive the side edge of the next block in a row.

3. A tile comprising circumferential rows of curved hollow blocks, each having inner and outer spaced curved walls, each block having at one end a lengthwise groove and having at the other end a projecting lengthwise tongue adapted to be received into such a groove of the next adjacent block, and having narrower lengthwise grooves on opposite sides of the tongue, each block having the edges of its walls at one side beveled from their inner faces outwardly and away from the opposite side of the block and having the edges of its walls at the other side beveled outwardly and toward the first side of the block.

Des Moines, Iowa, April 9th, 1930.

FREDERICK H. MEIER. 

